Diné College Professor Selected for Three-Year Term by National Microbiology Organization
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 11, 2021
Contact: Dr. Shazia Tabassum Hakim, (928)283-5113
TSAILE, Ariz. — Professor Dr. Shazia Tabassum Hakim, Diné College’s Microbiology and Biomedical Sciences Professor from the school of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math), will be representing the American Society for Microbiology’s Arizona and Nevada Chapter as Councilor at ASM’s “Council on Microbial Science (COMS)” https://asm.org/Council-on-Microbial-Sciences for a term of three years starting July 2021.
“Dr. Hakim’s selection continues Diné College’s transformation as a four-year institution,” said Provost Geraldine Garrity. “We are focused on becoming the premier tribal college research institution and this position exemplifies our goal.”
ASM founded in 1899, is one of the largest professional society representing Microbiology with more than 40,000 members worldwide, and 35 ASM Branches around the U.S. Through ASM Microbe international moot, ASM student chapters, the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS), and a number of fellowship grants and research activities, every year thousands of microbiologists, researchers, national, international and minority students benefited to present their research, enhance professional development skills, explore graduate schools, and network.
ASM’s Council on Microbial Sciences (COMS) is a new, dynamic governance structure representing the entire society to promote and advance the microbial sciences. COMS is the key connection between ASM’s members and ASM’s leaders — and the place where members can get involved with their society.
Professor Hakim joined Diné College in 2018 as STEM teaching and research faculty, after serving as professor, chair of Microbiology, and Dean Sciences at multiple institutes in Pakistan and Canada.
“This new responsibility will not only serve as a milestone in Professor Hakim’s career but also will be helpful for Diné College students who are dreaming of making this world free of germs like SARS-CoV-2, and want to be a part of microbial and biomedical sciences in future,” said College Provost Geraldine Garrity, Ed.D.
Diné College is a four-year tribal college located on the Navajo reservation with six campuses around Arizona and New Mexico and primarily serves Navajo students. The school offers 13 bachelor’s degrees, 20 associate’s, and 9 certificate programs. The school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The college, established in 1968, is the first tribally-controlled institution and was formerly named Navajo Community College.
